Apparatus for producing type proof and photoprints thereof



y 1953 J. F. MURPHY 2,638,040

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TYPE PROOF AND PHOTOPRINTS THEREOF Filed Feb. 11, 1950 3 Sheeiis-Sheet l 1 1 1 7. E fa yew for.

J. F. MURPHY May 12, 1953 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TYPE PROOF AND PHOTOPRINTS THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1950 IMMUNE? T /a fwd 22 0 2 1: AQW

J. F. MURPHY May 12, 1953 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TYPE PROOF AND PHOTOPRINTS THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 11, 1950 2?: 2 02? for. M

Patented May 12, 1953 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING TYPE PROOF AND PHOTOPRINTS THEREOF Joseph F. Murphy, West Roxbury, Mass., assignor to Lumitype Corporation, Roxbury, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,635

7 Claims. 1

This invention comprises a new and improved process of producing typed proof and includes within its scope the novel outfit for carrying the process into effect.

In my development of improvements in the photo-composing art and to which I have applied the new and coined name of Lumitype, I have devised several novel methods and apparatus, such for example as shown in my prior U. S. Pat. Nor 2,489,458 dated November 29, 1949, filed April 14, 1948. In my said prior patent I have illustrated the use of my novel type blocks which are interlocked with each other and assembled in a frame or stick for photo-composing. In my present invention, I have illustrated and claimed an improved construction of type block and transparent supporting plate therefor, wherein the plate and the blocks have cooperating interlocking means whereby each block is secured in predetermined position on the transparent supporting plate independently of each other. Furthermore, this cooperating interlocking of a type block and supporting plate automatically efiects the alignment, desired position, and symmetrical assembly of a plurality of difierent type blocks or rows of different sizes and dimensions, as Well as prints, cuts, or other subject matter to be photographed in my novel Lumitype photographmg process.

The process of my invention is particularly useful for producingdisplay headings, layouts, offset printing and the like. Heretofore such proofs have usually been produced from type that must be set by hand at considerable expense and with a very limited range of style available to all but the largest printing plants. This is because fonts of large size type are costly and the small printers equipment does not include many varieties thereof.- Moreover, body type is expensive and the proof frequently requires retouching to eliminate blemishes where the ink has failed to produce a solid black impression. The setting of metal type, moreover, requires the services of experiencedtype setters, particularly since such metal type appears in reverse of its impression.

The process of the present invention consists in setting upon a ribbed or grooved transparent plate rows of transparent type blocks having opaque letters therein, placing a sensitized sheet upon the said blocks, and exposing the same to light passing through the plate and blocks for a time suificient to eliminate any shadow or reproduction of the ribs of the plate in the ensuin; pr ha e isc ve ed hat While th ribbed surface of the plate may ordinarily produce corresponding lines in the proof, these may be entirely eliminated by what would ordinarily be slight over-exposure. This is entirely in order, however, in carrying out my improved process since overexposure only accentuates the contrast between the black and white colors of the proof.

An important feature of the invention consists in type blocks provided with a flange or flanges which interlock with the ribs of the transparent plate and thus accurately and positively align the type blocks in the desired position.

It will be appreciated that the ribbed transparent plate and the flanged Lumitype blocks with the flange interlocking in said ribs provide an automatic aligning and holding construction and insure the permanent position of the blocks on the plate in any arrangement, alignment, or disalignment to which they are applied during the assembling of the same. Thus, spacing devices, blocks, dummies, or the like are not needed in assembling the various type blocks, cuts, or other subject matter on the plate. Once the flange on the block or other interlocking means is fitted between any selective ribs on the plate, it is thereby held in position for the subsequent photo-composing operation.

While I prefer to utilize ribs and flanges as interlocking elements, I contemplate the use of any other desired cooperating means for the purpose of holding the type blocks, prints, cuts, or other subject matter in assembled position on the transparent plate. Thus, for example, the type blocks may have one or more depending projections, and centrally located instead of a flange at an edge, and the transparent plate may be similarly provided with interlocking recesses.

In carrying out my improved process I preferably employ a hand contact printing apparatus for producing quickly and inexpensively white on black reverse reproduction proofs. With such apparatus good results are not dependent upon split second exposures or precisely timed processing. Thus skilled operators are unnecessary and a brighter illumination of the workroom is pos-- sible. The type proofs printed in this manner may be enlarged or reduced to any desired size by the use of a conventional photographic enlarger. Art type, screened, and foreign language type characters may also be employed ifdesired. Die cut borders, stars, arrows and insignia may be employed conveniently, and type may. be set within such borders thereby eliminatin the necessity of stripping in the type. The blocks "of intermediate grooves. serves as a holder for transparent type blocks themselves may display characters of any desired size, as from 24 to 14% point.

The features and advantages of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus and the manner of its use as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the appara tus With portions broken away,

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional-view on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig.

4 but showing the apparatusin closed condition,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the box portion of the apparatus shown on a reduced scale,

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the apparatus as employed for :secur'ing'a black on white proof,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a typical setup in the "apparatus; and

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of one of the type I blocks.

The apparatus herein shown comprises a rectangular box H) and a hinged cover i i. The side walls of the box are shouldered to receive a cushion E2 of rubber or the like and upon this .rests a transparent plate iii of Lucite or other suitable resinous material. The plate i8 is smooth on its under face and provided on its upper face with a series of uniformly spaced transversely extending ribs i l providing a series The ribbed plate 53 I5 which may be formed of the same resinous material and, as shown in Fig. 9, may be provided with a downturned flange it of such width as to fit into grooves between the ribs l3 of the transparent plate. Each type block is provided with an opaque letter or character in reverse position. The type block shown in Fig.

9 carries the capital letter L.

After the type blocks have been set in rows upon the transparent plate, a sheet of sensitized paper I! may be laid over them and held tin place by a plate 68 of such dimensions as to fit freely between the sides of the'box i0, as

. be colored red and may be lighted continuously .while the-remaining lamps are lighted only for the actual printing operation.

The hinged cover H of the apparatus is provided with a transparent plate 2! of glass or transparent resinous material. of the apparatus is closed, the plate 25 is adapted When the cover to contact with the red plate it which normally stands slightly above the rim of the box It as shown in Fig. 2. As the cover is forced shut the plate l8, theribbed plate it and the assembled :"type blocks with the sensitized sheet are depressed slightly as permitted by the cushion l2.

Thus continuous uninterrupted contact is se- "cured'between all'the type blocks and the'sensi.'

tized paper 11. The lamps 29 are then lighted and the sensitised paper is exposed to light passing through the plate l3 and the type blocks l5 for a length of time sufficient to print the letters in white against a black background, all without showing any indication of the ribbed configuration of the holder plate i3.

In Fig. 8' is indicated a typical setup which includes three lines of type blocks E5 of different sizes, a special type block 23 in which is depicted an arrow, and a block 2 1 out out to provide a frame for inserted type blocks 25.

In using the apparatus, the red safe light in the box i 8 is always on so that the operator may see the type of the setup, noting any corrections that may be needed before the actual exposure takes place. After exposure has taken place the proof will be a sparkling deep black with the type characters showing clear, white, sharp and crisp. The proof is now ready to take its place in the usual paste-up.

The type proof "may be utilized to produce black type on a white background with the illustrated apparatus by removing the type blocks and placing the red filter plate It upon the "ribbed "plate i3. A sheet of sensitized paper is now placed on the plate i 8 emulsion side up. The white on black proof is placed face up in contact with this paper, the cover ii closed, and the sensitized paper exposed to light passing through the transparent plate 2i of the cover from an overhead source of light. sensitized paper is now available which can be exposed for minutes or seconds with entirely satisfactory results. The resulting proof can be used direct for paste-up andmay also be used as a negative in any photographic enlarger.

While the holder plate 13 has been described as constructed of resinous material, it will be understood that its composition is ofsecondary'importance and that it may well be built up of glass or any other suitable transparent material. Also, the ribs M and grooves may be formed integrally with the transparent plate l3, as shown in the drawings, or may be built up of strips or parts of similar or difierent materials. The cushion l2 may likewise be of any resilient material and may take the form of spaced segments rather than the continuous frame herein shown. The block it shown in Fig. 8 is in the nature of an auxiliary frame which has a flange similar to the flange N5 of the type blocks shaped to fit between the ribs M of the holder plate and thus locate the auxiliary frame positively in position and in alignment. The frame 24 is itself transparent and it is provided with an opaque border which outlines its opening. The type blocks 25 may be inserted in the opening after the frame 2d has been located on the holder plate, and the type blocks will be held in their proper position within theframe by engagement with the ribs of the underlying holder plate 13. Y

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail a preferred embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: I

1. In photo-printing apparatus of mews described, in combination with an enclosed housing having a light source distributed over the 5 inner bottom section of the housings; transparent bed-plate removably mounted within- -sa id housing over said light source, saidtrans fiarent bed-plate having a top smooth surface with' a series of parallel grooves having the saline width bed-plate, comprising a transparent type plate element with a flat surface in surface contact with said surface of said bed-plate, said type plate having an edge flange extending outwardly engaging and fitting into and adjustably positioned in any one of said grooves, said type plate element covering more than one groove and having a thin, opaque character on the surface of said type plate element opposite to that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, and means including a cover for said housing for holding a sensitized sheet laid over the character mounted on said plate element in continuous and uniform surface contact therewith.

2. In photo-composing apparatus of the type described, in combination with an enclosed housing having a light source distributed over the inner bottom section of the housing, a transparent bed-plate removably mounted within said housing over said light source, having smooth bottom and top surfaces with a series of parallel grooves having the same width and depth normal to the top surface and spaced apart a distance not greater than the height of the smallest type to be used therewith, a type to be used with said bed-plate, comprising a transparent plate element with a flat surface in surface contact with said surface of said bed-plate, said type plate having an edge flange perpendicular to said plate element at the edge thereof engaging and fitting into and adjustably positioned in any of said grooves, said plate element covering more than one groove and having a thin opaque letter within the margin on the surface of said plate element opposite from that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, and means for holding a sensitized sheet laid over the letters mounted on said plate element in continuous and uniform contact therewith.

3. Apparatus for producing type proof comprising a substantially rectangular box having a removable cover, lighting means distributed over the bottom section of the box, a transparent bedplate, means including a yielding cushion support for supporting said bed plate within said box in a position parallel to the cover when closed, said transparent bed-plate having a smooth under surface with a top surface having a series of parallel grooves having the same width and depth and spaced apart a distance not greater than the height of the smallest type to be used thereon, transparent type plate elements with a surface in surface contact with the surface of said bed-plate, said type plate having an edge flange adapted to engage and fit into, and adjustably positioned in any of said grooves, said type plate elements covering more than one groove and having thin opaque letters on their surfaces opposite to that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, and means positioned between said cover and the type plate elements for holding a sensitized sheet in intimate contact with said type plate elements.

4. Apparatus for producing type proof comprising a substantially rectangular box having a hinged cover, a set of electric lights positioned in the bottom of the box, means providing inwardly extending support from the side walls of said box, a yielding cushion mounted upon said support, a transparent holder plate resting upon said cushion in a position substantially perpendicular to the side walls of the box, said trans- 6 parent yielding plate having a smooth underface and a top surface having a series of parallel grooves having the samewidth and depth and spaced apart a distance not greater than the height of the smallest type 'to be usedthereon, transparent type plate elements with a surface in surface contact with the surface of said bed plate, said type plate having an edge flange adapted to engage and fit into and adjustably positioned in any of said grooves, said type plate elements covering more than one groove, and having thin opaque characters formed on their surfaces opposite to that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, and means positioned between said cover and the type plate elements for holding a sensitized sheet in intimate contact with said type plate elements.

5. Apparatus for producing type proof comprising a substantially rectangular box having a removable cover, lighting means distributed over the bottom section of the box, a transparent bedplate, means including a, yielding cushion support for supporting said bed-plate within said box in a position parallel to the cover when closed, said transparent bed-plate having a smooth under surface with a top surface having a series of parallel grooves having the same width and depth and spaced apart a distance not greater than the height of the smallest type to be used thereon, transparent type plate elements with a surface in surface contact with the surface of said bed-plate, said type plate having an edge flange adapted to engage and fit into and adjustably positioned in any of said grooves, said type plate elements covering more than one groove, and having thin opaque letters on their surface opposite to that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, and means positioned be" tween said cover and the type plat elements for holding a sensitized sheet in intimate contact with said type plate elements, including a filter plate positioned directly over the type plate elements and bearing uniformly against the same.

6. In photo-composing apparatus of the type described, in combination with an enclosed housing having a light source distributed over the inner bottom section of the housing, a transparent bed-plate removably mounted within said housing over said light source, said transparent bed-plate having a top smooth surface with a series of parallel grooves having the same width and depth and spaced apart a distance not greater than the height of the smallest type to be used therewith, a type to be used with said bed plate comprising a transparent type plate element with a fiat surface in surface contact with said surface of said bed-plate said type plate having an edge flange extending outwardly engaging and fitting into and adjustably positioned in any of said grooves, said type plate element covering more than one groove, and having an opaque character on the surface of said type plate element opposite to that in contact with the surface of said bed-plate, the edges of said type-plates adjacent the flanges having all the same angle with said grooves when the flanges engage the grooves, whereby each type-plate lies in alignment with the adjacent type-plate when in position on the bed-plate, and means supported by said housing for holding a sensitized sheet laid over the character mounted on said plate element in continuous and uniform surface contact therewith.

'7. Photo-composing apparatus of the kind described, having in combination an enclosed housing with a light source distributed over the lower 16f whys-housing. ,6, .tltanspazmnt bed-plate memwahiy mennted the housing over isalid light 60mm, said "tmnspanent plane @ormed with a plurality :of ribs and gmoves on its upper surface, :transparent @ype units for assembly therewith, flash unit having an npaque character 4m one surface and a'depending element extending from the .Qpposite surface and interlocking in a roove of the bed plate, said type units being of a greater length than the Width of one of said ribs and contacting with and spanning a. plurality of said eribs, together with means.- for holdmg a :sensitized sheet laid -over the type units,

JOSEPH F. MURPHY,

8 References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 15 69,261

Name Date Goldberg Oct. 13, 19 14 Jannenga et a1 Nov. 139, 1929 Mills July 16, 1-933 Weber June 16,1942 Cohen Get. 6, 1942 Walters 61; a1 Dec. 14, 1943 Grouse July 20, 119418 Story May '30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Norway May 22, 1945 

